Clothes returner for ironing machines



Dec. 25, 1928.

A. MARCOUX CLOTHES RETURNER FOR IRONING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 22, 1928 Inventor A -caa e /%rcoz(x ttorngy Dec. 25,1921; Y 1.696509 A. MARCOUX CLOTHES RBTURNER FOR IRONING MACHINES Til la 1928 a Sheets-Sheet 2 e L e I!) /0 I 57 r K g /32 e 3 9"? H Inventor" A'rcaa e Marcela:

Attorng Dec. 25, 1928. 1,696,609

A. MARCOUX CLOTHES RETURNER FOR IRONING MACHINES Filed March 22. 1 928 a sums-shew 3 Inwentar Patented Dec. 25, 1928.

ARCADE MARCOUX, OF NEW BEDFORID, MASSACHUSETTS.

CLOTHES RETURNER FOR IROIIING MACHINES.

Application filed March 22, 1928.

The present invention relates to improvements in laundry handling devices v and has reference more particularly to a clothes returner for association with an ironing machine.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide an attachment more particularly for association with an ironing machine, whereby the clothes that have passed through the machine may be returned to the service end of the machine in a simple and efficient manner.

A further object is to provide a clothes returner for an ironing machine which is simple in construction and which can be readily and easily attached to the machine without necessitating any material alterations to the machine with which it is associated.

Other objects of the invention will become apparem as the nature of the invention proceeds and when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a conventional ironing machine showing my improved c iothes returner mounted thereon.

Figure 2 is a front elevation.

Figure 3 is a top plan view, and

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of the foot lever and its supporting bracket therefor.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates an ironing machine of any conventional construction, a table or the like designated by the numeral 2 being arranged at the service end or front side of the machine.

A similar table 3 is arranged at the rear or receiving end of the machine. As the construction of the ironing machine forms no important part of the present invention, a detailed description thereof is not believed necessary in the present instance.

The roller shaft of the ironing machine is shown at 4, and the purpose of this roller shaftin regard to the operation of my dcvice will be presently apparent.

The clothes returner embodying my invention comprehends the provision of receiving member designated generally by the nu- Serial No. 268,675.

meral 5, the same comprising the forward andrear sections 6 and 7 respectively, which sections are slightly curved transversely throughout their entire length. These sec trons are hingedly secured together at their adjacent edges as illustrated at 8. Each section preferably comprises a wooden frame of rectangular shape, and a series of slats extend transversely of the frame, and these slats ar slightly spaced with. respect to each other as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. The slats are designated by the numeral 9. A pair of standards 10 e2itend upwardly from the respective ends of the ironing machine and the longitudinally extending rod 11 that is spaced with respect to the top of the machine is secured at its respective ends in the upper ends of the standards and the hinged edges of the complementary sections 6 and 7 comprising the clothes lifter 5 are secured on this rod in any appropriate manner.

Additional standards 12 are arranged at the forward or service end of the ironing machine for supporting the forward edge of the clothes receiver unit 5, and the bracliets 12 are secured to the respective corners of the front section 6, so that this section of the clothes receiver is stationary. Upstanding ledges 13 are provided at the outer longitudinal edges of the sections of the clothes receiving unit.

Normally, the hinged rear section 7 of the clothes receiving unit 5 is disposed downwardly in the manner as shown in the full lines in Figure 1, whereby the cl thes receiving unit is rendered inoperative and the purpose of moving the hinged section 7 to an operative position, I provide an operating cable.

A lever 14: is pivoted, its inner end to the inner side of one end of the ironing machine as at 15, and carried by this lever are the pulleys 16 and 17, as is more clear- 1y illustrated in Figure 1. A pulley belt 18 is operatively associated with these pulleys, and one end of the belt is connected to a cable 19, that is trained over suitable grooved pulleys 20 and 21 respectively, that are secured to the ceiling and located directly above the front end of the ironing machine.

' The other end of this cable 19 is con-nected to the connected together forward ends of the cables 22 and 23, that are also trained over suitable grooved pulleys also secured to the ceiling, which pulleys are designated generally by the numeral 24, the othor ends of these last mentioned cables 22 and 23 being connected to the respective rear corners of the hinged rear section Y.

An additional cable 25 is secured at one end to the other end of the belt 18, and this cable 25 is trained over a pulley 26 that is secured to the ceiling at a point above the rear of the mangler, and a counter weight 27 is attached to the other end of this cable 25, as is clearly disclosed in Figure 1.

Also forming an important part of the present invention is the foot lever 28, that is pivoted, at its inner end as at 29, on a horizontally disposed arm 30 that is provided at its inner end with an eye portion ill, for engagement around a brace rod 32, that extends longitudinally of the ironing machine 1 at the bottom thereof. The forward end of this arm 30 is formed with upwardly and downwardly disposed eXtensions 33 and 3%, respectively, the lower end of the lower extension 34; being adapted to engage the floor. The upper end of the upper extension 33 is twisted for disposition at right angles with respect to the major portion of the extension and a grooved pulley 35 is supported on the twisted upper end of the extension 33, over which is trained the cable 86, one end being secured to the intermediate portion of the foot lever 28, while the other end is connected to the outer end of the pivoted lever let, the intermediate portion of the cable being trained over an additional pulley 37.

The operation of my device may be briefly stated as follows:

The clothes are passed into the ironing machine at the service end of the machine. The person at the receiving table 3, places the clothes after the same have passed through the ironing machine into the rear hinged section 7, of the clothes receiving unit 5. On the proper signal, the operator at the service end of the machine presses downwardly on the forward end of the pivoted foot lever 28 and by reason of the connection with the lever 14, through the cable 36, said lever lt is swung downwardly so that the pulley 16 is brought into contact with the roller shaft 4 of the ironing machine 1.

The rotation of the roller shaft also causes the rotation of the friction pulley 16, thus causing the belt 18 to move around the pulley 16. The movement of the belt 18 around the pulley 16, in one direction will cause the lifter cable 19 to be pulled downwardly, and this in turn will actuate the cables 22 and 23, whereby the rear hinged section 7 of the clothes receiving unit 5 is swun upwardly to the position shown in the dotted lines, and when in this position, the clothes placed on the section 7 will, by

gravity, move downwardly, onto the forward section 6 of t 1e unit 5, where the operator at the service end of the machine takes the clothes off.

The pressure upon the foot lever 28 is released and the weight 27 that is attached to the cable 25 and which cable in turn connected to the belt 18, will move the pivoted lever 1 rearwardly, so that the pulley 16 moved out of engagement with the roller shaft 4, whereupon the hinged rear section 7 of the clothes unit 5 will automatically re turn to its lowered position.

It w ll thus be seen from the foregoing description that I have provided a clothes lifter and returner for association with an ironing machine that will, at all. times be positive and eliicient in its operation and due to the simplicity of its construction, the parts comprising the device can be readily and easily installed without necessitating any material alterations of the parts of the mangler with which the device is associated.

lVhile I have shown the invention as associated with one particular type of ironing machine, it is to be understood that the same may be used in conjunction with other types of machines.

lVhile I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the size, shape, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In combination with an ironing ma chine, a clothes receiving unit mounted thereon, said unit including a stationary downwardly inclined front section, a vertically swinging rear section, and means for tilting the rear section to an operative position with respect to the forward section, whereby the clothes placed on the rear section will, by gravity, be delivered'to the frontof the machine,

2. in combination with an ironing ma chine, a clothes receiving unit mounted thereon, said unit including a stationary downwardly inclined front section, a vertically swinging rear section, means for tilting the rear section to an operative posit-ion with respect to the forward section, whereby the clothes placed on the rear section will, by gravity, be delivered to the front of the machine, said means comprising a flexible lifting member connected to the free edge portion of the rear section. V

In combination with an ironing machine including a rotatable roller shaft at the front of the machine, a clothes receiving unit mounted on the machine and including a downwardly inclined stationary front section arranged above the machine, a rear section adapted for vertical swinging movement, a pulley carrying member pivotally supported on the machine for cooperation with the roller shaft, a driving belt trained over said pulley, lifting cables connecting one end of the belt with the rear end of the hinged rear section for swinging the hinged section upwardly to an operative position with respect to the front section, whereby the clothes placed on the rearsection will, by gravity, move downwardly toward the front of the ironing machine when the pulley is brought into operative engagement with the roller shaft, and means associated with the other end of the belt for holding said pulley out of engagement with the roller shaft and maintain. the rear section of the clothes receiving unit in a lowered position.

l. In combination with an ironing machine including a rotatable roller shaft at the front of the machine, a clothes receiving unit mounted on the machine and including a downwardly inclined stationary front section arranged above the ironing machine, a rear section adapted for vertical swinging movement, a pulley carrying member pivotally supported on the ironing machine for cooperation with the roller shaft, a driving belt trained over said pulley, lifting cables connecting one end of the belt with the rear end of the hinged rear section for swinging the hinged section upwardly to an operative position with respect to the front section, whereby the clothes placed on the rear section will, by gravity, move downwardly toward the front of the ironing machine when the pulley is brought into operative engagement with the roller shaft, means associated with the other end of the belt for holding said pulley out of engagement with the roller shaft and maintain the rear section of the clothes receiving unit in a lowered position, and means for moving the pulley into engagement with the roller shaft.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ARCADE MARCOUX. 

